“Do ye know the forests well?” she led him through the trees towards her father’s castle.
“Aye, but as we walk further down the glen, I know them less, the tracks and ways of this part of the forest are less familiar tae me.”
“Do ye know the Cameron’s?”
Nairne had a fascination with the clan she had so long been taught to hate, they were mysterious and otherworldly. At times she wondered whether they really existed, or if the facts of the past had been turned into fable. Perhaps this laddie was one of them, and she was keen to know if the stories were true or simply lies designed to scare her. If this laddie were a Cameron, then he was by no means terrifying, murderous or wicked. A few moments in his company was enough to know that. Nairne was a good judge of character and could tell that Andrew Macleod if indeed that were his real name, was a decent sort.
“I … I know of them, aye, they are good and noble folk and reside in the crofts high on the mountainside, occasionally we have dealings with them and some dwell in the forest. The Cameron’s have always been kind tae us unlike …” he stopped short, falling silent as she turned back to him.
“Unlike the Mackintosh’s?” she laughed.
“I dinnae mean that I was just saying that the Cameron’s are good people, I have never had dealings with a Mackintosh before,” and Nairne smiled to see him blush.
“Well, ye have had dealings with a Mackintosh now, and perhaps ye will agree that they are not all so bad?”
“They say that the Mackintosh castle is a place of such wickedness, do ye not despise living amongst such people?”
“Aye, at times I do, but one must be content with one’s lot in life.”
* * *
Andrew was wary of revealing too much of himself to Nairne, she was more beautiful at close quarters than she had seemed from afar, and did not want to scare her. For all he knew she was testing him, trying to discover if he was a Cameron. To reveal himself as heir to her father’s castle could be dangerous, he couldn’t trust her yet with such knowledge, but as the two walked through the forest, he found himself becoming more enamored towards her, talking animatedly about the birds and trees and telling her of his favourite places.
They were taking the same route by which Andrew had first followed her home, and he recognized the paths they walked, though he did not tell, lest she be offended he had followed her.
“Have ye ever come across the waterfalls at the ridge below Cor Droon? They fall hundreds of feet from above intae pools below. There are places tae dive there, and the water is so deep and clear when the sun shines ontae it ye can see tae the very depths, and around the waters grow the most beautiful trees, it is up yonder towards the mountains beyond.”
“That place must be deep in Cameron country, ye are a brave laddie if ye go swimming up there!”
“The Cameron’s are not like that, I know a few and have never had trouble from them, it is the Mackintosh’s which are the devils,” he quickly pulled himself up, realizing his words.
“Ye think we are all devils do ye?” Stopping in her tracks, she turned to Andrew, who blushed.
“Not all perhaps but I know the old stories, the ones about the Laird and his fight with Iain Cameron, and the battle that ensued.”
“And what is it that ye know of that, laddie? I know only what my clan tells me.”
“The Camerons say that twenty-one years ago their Laird was killed by Murdoch Mackintosh your …” Andrew began, once again pulling himself up back again “your Laird made a terrible show of trying to marry Rhona, the wife of Iain Cameron, she escaped with the Laird’s brother and the clans have been at odds ever since.”
“Have ye ever seen Rhona Cameron?” Nairne asked.
Andrew paused; he was tangling himself up in lies, the thought of his dear mother’s safety foremost in his mind. He dare not reveal his true identity, and choosing his words carefully, he continued.
“Aye, though she lives … far from here in safety, as I understand it. There are rumors, of course, some even say she escaped across tae Edinburgh and lives the high life there, far from the troubles of her clan. I have never seen her.”
He was a hopeless liar and always embellished his stories far too richly; nevertheless, she seemed satisfied with his response, and as they walked, he found himself feeling relaxed in her company.
She fascinated him, her pretty looks and mannerisms were enchanting. If he had not known the truth, he would still have believed that he was following one of the faery folk, of which his Godmother spoke so often. The myths and legends of the forest had been the tales of his childhood, and even now still believed them possible. But Nairne was real, and as they walked, Andrew found himself falling ever more under her spell.
They came at last to the path where Andrew had watched the encounter with her father’s soldier. Pausing, he looked around a little nervously in case such a meeting should occur again.
“Has something spooked ye?” she turned to him, laughing.
“No, I … I should be getting back tae our … our cottage, my mother will be waiting for me, she said tae be back before the sun began tae sink and given the distance we have walked I should probably leave ye here.”
“After all yer talk of waiting for me so often and now ye leave me here? Come on a wee bit further, the castle is not far. Ye are not afraid, are ye?”
“Afraid? No, but …”
“Aye, well come on then,” and taking him by the hand, she led him reluctantly toward the castle walls, Andrew looking around nervously at every turning.
“I really should be going.” The turrets of the Cameron castle came into view, the banner of Murdoch Mackintosh fluttering in the breeze.
“Ye are a funny one Andrew Macleod and make no mistake. I suppose ye will wait for me at the pool again in case I might swim there once more?”
“I … well no, but perhaps … perhaps we might meet again, I could show ye the waterfalls at Cordroon, and we could swim there together?”
“Ye are asking me tae swim with ye now, are ye?” and Andrew blushed again
“I meant only …” he began, turning a deep shade of crimson.
“I know just what ye meant, Andrew Macleod, but aye I will meet ye again, and perhaps the two of us might become friends, ye can show me where ye live in the forest, and I shall meet your mother, perhaps?”
“Three days from now? We could meet by the pool from which we have just come, I will gladly show ye my part of the forest,” Andrew was excited at the prospect of seeing her once again.
“I shall be there, come early in the morning, for there are times when it is difficult for me tae leave the castle. I can sneak out early, though, and ye can show me this fabled waterfall. It has been nice meeting ye, Andrew Macleod and thank ye for returning my shawl.”
“It has been nice meeting ye too, Nairne, farewell until then.” Andrew watched through the trees as she made her way towards the castle.
He was enchanted, and despite the danger of remaining, he watched for some time until she disappeared from sight through the gates. How happy he felt to have spoken with her, and as he ran home through the forest, he hummed a ditty, how good it felt to have met such a beautiful lassie and to have plucked up the courage to speak with her.
* * *
Nairne too felt happy at the thought of her encounter with the bonnie laddie in the forest. Her fear had soon turned to ease, he seemed a good sort, gentle and shy with an easy manner about him. He was nothing like the other men she had met in her short life, the ones her father had so often attempted to have her married off to.
“Ye will be married soon enough, lassie,” he would say, and after a few more whiskies, he would add, “I shall see tae it.”
As she entered through the castle gates, the place seemed quieter than usual. Only a few guards were stationed in the gatehouse, and most of the horses were gone from the stables. There was not the usual hustle and bustle she was used to, and she looked around in puzzlement, won
dering what was happening.
Entering the keep, she found her mother in great distress and ran to Nairne as soon as she saw her.
“Oh Nairne, thank the good Lord ye are here, where have ye been? Your father has been in an uproar.” Tears ran down her face as she embraced her daughter.
“Whatever is wrong, mother. Why are ye in such distress? I was walking in the forest, I went tae swim in the pool, there is nothing tae worry about, my father’s anger will calm, just as it always does.”
“No, ye dinnae understand, he has gone and taken half the clan with him on his murderous rampage.”
“Where tae? Where has he gone tae, mother?” Her mother seemed in such heightened distress that she could hardly find sense in her.
“He has gone tae the crofts, tae attack the Cameron’s. He flew intae a foul mood when he discovered ye were gone this morning. There was no reasoning with him, he was ranting and raging with blood lust. They marched off as soon as he assembled them together, I fear the worst for the Cameron’s.”
Nairne’s heart fell at this news, she knew her father’s desire for revenge was strong, and the happiness at meeting Andrew was now gone. She hoped he would not meet her father’s men returning from the crofts. Her father hated those who dwelled in the forest, Cameron or not. As Nairne and her mother awaited Murdoch’s return, she could not help but feel worried for the charming laddie in the woods and think with sorrow about the Cameron’s who would inevitably suffer much that day.
* * *
“What has happened, mother,” Andrew rushed towards the crofts where smoke billowed across the mountains.
Rhona ran to meet him, clasping herself to him and sobbing, the treachery around them all too apparent to Andrew’s eyes. Crofters and peasants were tending to each other’s wounds, several lay motionless on the ground while others attempted to revive the injured. Many of the crofts had burned to the ground while the wattle and thatch of others smoked as fires were quenched. The cattle roamed freely across the mountainside, and several had become lame or wandered onto the treacherous rocks above. This could only be the doing of the Mackintosh’s, and Andrew looked sadly around at the scene before him, his people miserable after suffering at the hands of Murdoch and his men.
“They came out of nowhere; I was terrified lest they’d caught ye in the forest. None of us was expecting them; usually, there is some warning, a chance tae fight back.” Rhona sobbed at the thought of losing her son, tears running down her face, as she held him close to her breast.
“What about Stewart and Duncan?” Andrew looked around for his stepfather and uncle.
“Stewart is injured, but he is alive, as is your Uncle. The Mackintosh’s retreated back intae the forest as soon as they had proved their point. Murdoch is a coward, they came upon us just as we were milking this afternoon, we dinnae have a chance.” A fresh wave of emotion overwhelmed her.
“How many are dead?”
“Four of our number and two of theirs, no one gains anything, but they cause chaos in the meantime. The crofts are burnt, and it will take several days to get all the animals fenced again,” Rhona recovered herself a little and allowed Andrew to lead her back home.
Their croft was one of the few, which remained undamaged, Stewart and Duncan were assisting with some of the injured as Andrew, and his mother came to the door.
“There ye are, we thought ye might have been killed, what possesses ye to keep running off like this,” Duncan turned on Andrew, his face flushed with anger.
“I … I was just down in the forest.”
“Aye, down in the forest like always when yer kinsmen were being butchered by the Mackintoshes. Yer father would be ashamed of ye.” Stewart could barely look the boy in the eyes.
“What do ye know about my father, it was ye and your brother that killed him.”
At this, Stewart advanced upon Andrew, grabbing him by the tunic, the emotions of the day overwhelming him.
“Watch yer mouth, laddie, if it were not for me, then ye would be dead. Ye would never have seen yer first birthday, let alone yer twenty-first. Ye are tae be Laird of this clan, and it is high time that ye started acting like it, ye should have been here to face Murdoch and his men because mark my words, laddie, they shall be back and in greater numbers. That is why the time has come for us to strike at them,” and he let go of Andrew’s tunic, breathless with anger.
Around them a general murmur of agreement filled the air, it was not that the other clansmen disliked Andrew, far from it. But they had seen him shirking his responsibilities, and in the terror of the attack that day they had sought in vain for their Laird, the young laddie who should lead them in their fight against the Mackintosh Clan.
“I dinnae shirk my responsibilities, I am my father’s son, and I shall see tae it that we are avenged. I dinnae deliberately leave ye today, and if I had known that Murdoch and his men were coming then I would have been ready, we all would have been. Mother, uncle, Stewart, all of ye, I promise ye I am ready to lead this clan, but I am not my father, I am his son, and I do things my way. My presence here today or not made no difference, but I promise ye I shall do better,” Andrew looked resolutely around him at the gathered clansmen.
“Aye, Andrew, ye shall do,” his mother called, but Stewart shook his head and turned away.
Around them, the wounded lay, and it was a sad time to be a Cameron. Together they laid the dead to rest, vowing that their memories would be honored by defeating the Mackintosh’s and reclaiming what was rightfully theirs. Andrew and his stepfather did not speak again that night, an uneasy truce reigning over the crofts.
Chapter Ten
‘Don’t Blame the Laddie’
The tragedy that befell the Cameron’s that day left deep wounds, there was much anger and resentment amongst the crofters, and talk soon turned to retaliation. Andrew’s stepfather and uncle spoke of little else in the days which followed, determined to mount a counter-attack, the time for the Cameron’s to take back the castle and lands which were rightly theirs drawing closer.
Andrew Cameron felt ashamed, hating himself for not being present to defend the honor of his clan, but he knew too that had he been there he may well have been killed. Without him, there would be no legitimate heir to the Lairdship, and he knew it was his duty to lead the Cameron’s to victory. It was a duty which rested heavily upon him, one which terrified him if truth be told. He had no experience as a warrior, the skirmishes he had witnessed, and lessons in swordsmanship paled into insignificance against the idea of facing Murdoch Mackintosh and his men.
So preoccupied was he by these thoughts that he almost forgot his meeting with Nairne. It was fortunate that his mother has asked him to pay a visit to his Godmother and check upon her safety, given the recent Mackintosh aggression. This gave him the excuse to go down into the forest for he knew what his uncle and stepfather would say if he did so without reason.
They had come to the conclusion that Andrew was dodging his responsibilities, a fact which Andrew denied. Though in truth, he had been so distracted by his thoughts of Nairne that all else had been forgotten for a while. He had never felt this way about a lassie, the feelings she had stirred had been new and confusing, and he wondered what they meant. He was fascinated by everything about her, and it was these thoughts, which made him eager to see her again.
As the third day came, he prepared to set off on Rhona’s errand to his Godmother, Aware that his next meeting would be tinged with the sadness brought by the Mackintosh’s. The tragic deaths of several men and women he held dear had left a gloomy mood across the crofts, but he knew he must continue his pretense to Nairne that he was a forest dweller and that the Cameron’s were but a distant legend to him.
“Dinnae be long down in the forest, laddie, and keep yer wits about ye as ye go, ye hear me?” Stewart demanded as Andrew prepared to depart.
“Aye, I will, I can outrun any Mackintosh,” Andrew replied.
“Not one who leaps at ye from a hiding place t
hough,” his uncle Duncan warned, “they will hide in the undergrowth, their spies are everywhere, mark my words laddie, there is more treachery in those folk than any I have known.”
“Just be careful, Andrew and make sure that Cairstine and Alistair are well,” Rhona passed him a packet of food she had prepared for her two oldest friends.
“I can look after myself, mother,” taking the package of food, he tucked it into his tunic, “I will stay tae eat with them tae so dinnae expect me back until late tonight.”
Highlander's Rightful Claim (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance) Page 8